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THE next morning, Bill was apologetically grateful the whole time he devoured breakfast and even when they were going into the forest.
Both Olivia and Arthur had the same expression as they watched him, an expression that said, “How could you hate this big lug?”
Rob huffed with excitement as the four of them walked through the forest, alternating between rushing ahead and falling behind.
Olivia would normally be wary in this situation, having just met this man who followed her husband home the night before, but she noticed she wasn’t on edge. She was relaxed. When she realized it was because Arthur was with her, her heart filled with warm feelings of gratitude for the umpteenth time.
Bill constantly talked to Olivia like he would never get bored of it. “Olivia, you know a lot about mushrooms, don’t you?”
“A bit.”
“Who taught you?”
“My grandmother. She was an apothecary.”
“Really? In Marlais?”
“No, actually. She worked at the castle. Her name was Marguerite, though I doubt you’d have heard of her. You’re so much younger. You wouldn’t have worked together.”
“Marguerite? You don’t mean the Marguerite? The legendary Marguerite who accompanied Princess Louise abroad?”
“I don’t know about ‘legendary,’ but yes, that’s her.”
“Oh my God!”
Bill was even more apologetic after that. Olivia was a little happy to find out her grandmother was a little more well-known than she’d realized.
As they walked, Olivia steadily picked herbs and mushrooms and placed them in the basket Arthur had slung across his back. Bill watched and then copied her, picking some as well.
“I’ve only ever used medicinal herbs others foraged and sent to us. I’m learning a lot seeing how they grow out here.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” said Olivia.
“Are you an apothecary, Olivia?”
“No. I run the restaurant, Soup Forest, that’s all. I give some of these herbs to the people in the area when they’re not feeling well.”
“Seems a waste of talent.”
Olivia chuckled.
She led them to where she’d picked the dame’s cures.
“I think you probably guessed by now, but I’m the one who picked those mushrooms,” she said. “If we pick the rest, they won’t come back next year. I want to leave these ones for then. I had hoped to find more nearby but couldn’t. I plan to deliver them to Freddy again once they grow back next year. I’m sorry for hiding this from you, Bill.”
“No, don’t be sorry! You’ve already done more than most people would have by going to such lengths for some strange man who followed your husband home.” He was as apologetic and grateful as always. “This forest is filled with treasures. Just look at all the medicinal herbs growing here. Maybe I couldn’t find more of the dame’s cures, but I found all sorts of other things that make good medicine. I’m happy with that.”
“I’m glad you don’t have to go back empty-handed,” said Olivia.
“Uh, by the way…”
“What is it?”
“Do you mind if I come back?” he asked.
“To the forest? Or to Soup Forest?”
“Either. Both.”
“Of course I don’t mind. I look forward to seeing you again.”
Bill left in high spirits, his sack filled with medicinal herbs and mushrooms. He seemed relieved to be promised more dame’s cures next year.
Arthur, on the other hand, was not in a good mood. He went to work without saying much, then stayed quiet when he came home.
“Arthur, are you angry about something?” asked Olivia.
“No. I’m not angry.”
“You are, though. I can feel it.”
“It’s just, you…”
“I what?”
“You’re not careful enough. Why were you so nice to that guy? He’ll take that the wrong way. Men always jump right to assuming a woman has a thing for him if she’s even a little bit nice to him!”
“Despite the fact that you, my husband, were walking just a couple of steps behind us?”
“That’s just how men are when they get swept away by someone. They don’t see anything else around them.”
“Swept away…? He didn’t seem swept away to me.”
“Sure.”
Rob barked and hurried over to stand between them. His tail wagged as he looked between their faces.
“Rob’s worried,” said Olivia. “He’s concerned we’re having a fight. Rob, I’m sorry. We’re not fighting. Arthur’s just oddly jealous.”
“Whatever.”
Olivia sighed, watching Arthur go upstairs in a huff, then smiled sadly. Arthur was normally so calm and collected, which meant she rarely sensed his thoughts. Right now though, he was angry and kept thinking, She’s my wife.
“‘My wife.’ Oh, he’s so cute, Rob,” she said.
“Woof!”
“You think so, too, don’t you?”
Arthur good human! Close with Olivia!
“I agree. He’s a good human. Tomorrow, why don’t I make Arthur’s favorite? Green pea egg drop soup. That should put him in a better mood.”
“Woof!”
Olivia cleaned up the kitchen, boiled a large pot of water to wash her hair, then blew out the lamps before going upstairs. The lamp was already out up there, and Arthur seemed to be asleep.
She slipped quietly into bed so as not to wake him, then laid down to sleep with her back to him.
“Olivia, I’m sorry,” he said.
“You’re awake?”
“I’m sorry for venting at you. But I’m not jealous.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I was just worried. You’re too nice to everyone.”
“Sure.” Olivia chuckled.
“What? Why are you laughing? I’m trying to apologize.”
“It’s just… I always thought I’d spend my whole life alone. I’m glad. Having someone jealous over me, it’s an odd feeling. I actually found myself feeling grateful.”
“I told you, I’m not jealous. I was just venting.”
“All right. Even though I don’t really know what you were angry about that needed venting.”
Arthur was silent for a moment. “Neither do I.”
Olivia suddenly burst into laughter, then Arthur.
“He’s definitely coming back next year,” he said. “Probably sooner, actually. And he plans to take advantage of all your doting niceness. And that annoys me.”
“Oh, don’t say that. He was such a sweetheart.”
Arthur didn’t reply. He was making an odd face in the dark, lit only by the moonlight, his lower lip stuck out as he lay on his back staring at the ceiling. Olivia laughed.
Rob heard it from downstairs and lifted his head, his ears perked up, but then he closed his eyes again.
Arthur good human.
Rob licked his chops then settled down to sleep feeling satisfied.
Ever since Arthur came to live with them, he stopped feeling the cold icy feelings flowing from Olivia’s heart, and that made him very happy.